"Highest difficulty, King Wu's campaign against Zhou! A three-thousand-year great clan! Cleared as a royal clan! I must be the first to pull this off!"
In a somewhat untidy bedroom, Luo Zhao stared at the results screen on his computer, his eyes bloodshot.
[Family surname: Luo Years of succession: 3000 Generations of succession: 130 Final title: Emperor (Emperor, King, Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, Baron) Final class: Royal clan (Royal clan, Great clan, Powerful family, Commoner) Notable figures born: 230]
This was a history-based single-player development game, drawing on real history while incorporating plenty of unofficial folk histories and supernatural tales. Players would be born at a particular point in time, establish a family, and ensure its succession until history came to an end.
There were eight difficulty levels, which were actually eight starting points: King Wu's campaign against Zhou, the Six States' attack on Qin, the Warlords of the Late Han, the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the An Lushan Rebellion, the Turbulent Five Dynasties, the Iron-Blooded Mighty Song, and the Blazing Sacred Flame.
The Blazing Sacred Flame mode was practically effortless. Become a meritorious noble at the dynasty's founding, use a Heart-Knot to escape the slaughter of the Hongwu reign, then coast all the way to the end of the game.
King Wu's campaign against Zhou was far harder. Between the barbarian upheavals, the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and Qin State's unification, the vast majority of players were finished before they even reached the Six States' attack on Qin.
Luo Zhao was about to post his entire playthrough on the forum when a new screen suddenly appeared on his computer.
"Congratulations on clearing the highest difficulty. Prepare for your next challenge!"
"An Easter egg?"
Luo Zhao muttered.
The next moment, faced with the antique surroundings and the memories that had appeared in his head out of nowhere, Luo Zhao could not help blurting out a classic curse. "Fuck."
He had actually transmigrated!
He had transmigrated into this single-player game.
He liked playing it, but he really did not want to transmigrate into it. Losing a game only meant starting another run. Dying in reality meant losing everything.
But as he searched his memories, he quickly learned his starting identity: the younger brother of King Wu, Ji Fa. That let him breathe a little easier. At least this damned game had not left him completely without a way out.
King Wu's younger brothers would generally receive fiefs. With a little luck and a cautious approach, surviving until the end of the Warring States period would be no problem. After all, in the real world, Yan State had survived for nearly a thousand years.
Luo Zhao was now the first generation, responsible for determining the family's course. Starting with the second generation, he would become an ancestral spirit tablet and influence the family through means such as appearing in dreams, though dream visitations had limits.
Most important were the game rewards the system issued at each stage. By participating as much as possible in major events that drove and influenced history, players would receive rare items from the system, ranked from highest to lowest in four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow.
There were also Fortune Points for prize draws. Every 1,000 Fortune Points bought one draw, and ten consecutive draws guaranteed a Yellow Tier item.
Only with these items was clearing the game possible. Following reality exactly made it impossible to sustain a family for thousands of years and complete the game.
Haojing.
In the Son of Heaven of Zhou's bedchamber, images of soaring phoenixes covered the columns, and several oil lamps flickered.
King Wu, Ji Fa, the sovereign of all under heaven, lay quietly on his bed. The god of war whose might had once shaken the world was now gravely ill.
Tap, tap, tap.
Amid a rapid patter of footsteps, Ji Zhao strode into the bedchamber. At a glance, he saw thick gray death energy rising above Ji Fa's head.
His expression changed drastically. This meant Ji Fa had little time left. Grief instantly filled his face, and he said tearfully, "Your Majesty, how has your health come to this? Has the chief physician failed to do his utmost? You must take care of yourself. Zhou State cannot go a single day without you!"
Ji Fa forced his eyelids open, caught Ji Zhao's hand, and squeezed it gently. With feeling, he said, "Zhao, you have finally come. There is no major trouble among the Fang States at Yinxu, is there?"
Ji Zhao clasped Ji Fa's thin, withered hand in both of his, his eyes brimming with tears as he choked out, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. You are favored by the Mandate of Heaven. How would those who defy the mandate dare oppose you?"
Ji Fa shook his head. "Those who defy the mandate always dream of opposing Heaven. Zhao, I have an important matter to entrust to you. Are you willing to undertake it?"
"Your Majesty, I owe my present position entirely to our blood ties. At your command, even if I had to cut open my heart, I would not refuse."
Smiling, Ji Fa patted his hand. "Zhao, Yin Shang was a dynasty of six hundred years, while we Zhou People were originally a small clan in Western Qi. Yet now the Ji clan of Zhou State has become the Son of Heaven.
"This is because Heaven no longer favored Yin Shang, allowing us Zhou People to achieve what we have today.
"But even though Heaven no longer favored Yin Shang, it did not let it perish completely.
"I am deeply worried.
"The Zhou People have yet to establish a capital worthy of bearing the Mandate of Heaven. How can I sleep peacefully?"
Ji Zhao understood Ji Fa's concern. Though the Son of Heaven of Zhou State was already sovereign of all under heaven, Zhou State was a realm of Western Qi. Haojing lay too far west, leaving its power weak across the vast former lands of Yin Shang.
Large numbers of Yin Shang descendants and resistance forces sympathetic to Yin Shang had yet to be completely eliminated. The Zhou People had not yet secured a foothold in the Central Plains. This was what worried King Wu.
Building a new capital was a form of projecting power, creating a Royal Domain belonging solely to the Royal House to deter the feudal lords harboring other intentions.
Ji Zhao understood this clearly and said through choked sobs, "Your Majesty, the Zhou People originally lived in Western Qi. It was only because you received the Mandate of Heaven that you could bring order to all under heaven. I believe that as long as you remain in good health, Heaven will surely bestow a capital worthy of bearing its mandate."
King Wu was a god of war who had received the Mandate of Heaven. No one under heaven dared resist his rule. Building a new capital in the former lands of Yin Shang would inevitably require a war, and Zhou State still needed King Wu to coordinate matters from the center.
Ji Fa shook his head, helplessness in his eyes. "Zhao, Heaven has decreed that I must leave the mortal world. You possess exceptional wisdom, skill in government, far-reaching vision, and the ability to command armies. Of all our royal brothers, only by entrusting you with the construction of the capital can I depart in peace."
Ji Zhao hurriedly said, "Only by following at your side have I acquired what little virtue and ability I possess. Since Your Majesty trusts me, I will certainly build a capital worthy of bearing Zhou State's Mandate of Heaven."
Ji Fa nodded in satisfaction and instructed him, "Zhao, when I rose to overthrow the old order and campaign against Yin Shang, I was obeying Heaven's will.
"Now Heaven has issued a decree: to receive its protection, we must establish a capital between the Luo River and the Yi River. This is where the Mandate of Heaven bestowed upon the Zhou People resides.
"If a capital can be built there, then when I return to Heaven, Zhou State's Mandate of Heaven should be able to endure."
The land between the Yi and Luo rivers had abundant water, a strategically important location, fertile soil, and a large population. Situated in the eastern heartland, a capital built there would allow the Zhou People to effectively deter the eastern feudal lords and barbarians.
Ji Zhao accepted this great responsibility and felt Ji Fa's grip tighten a little. Ji Fa stared at him and said, "Zhao, I must return to Heaven, but Zhou State cannot be without a Son of Heaven.
"My eldest child is only eight.
"Though Zhou State has the protection of the Mandate of Heaven, can an eight-year-old child truly become sovereign of all under heaven?
"I do not believe he can.
"I wish to pass the throne to you. You will surely become a ruler like Yao and Shun."
[Ding~ The host is facing a major historical turning point- Main quest: My family shall endure for countless ages (in progress) Please choose: 1. Accept and become the Son of Heaven. 2. Refuse and become a feudal lord. Different choices will lead to different endings. Please consider carefully.]
As a veteran player, Ji Zhao did not even need to think. Becoming the Son of Heaven in this game guaranteed defeat.
Even if he struggled to keep things going, the direct line would inevitably die out within four hundred years.
All previous players who had cleared the game had chosen to lie low, finishing as great clans. Becoming a royal clan meant bearing all the sins of the realm, with fortune spent faster than it could be earned. There was no predicting when the line would die out and cause the run to fail.
Luo Zhao had also kept his head down for over two thousand years in his successful run, only rising to the top during the final dynastic transition.
Ji Zhao's expression changed drastically. Gripping Ji Fa's hand tightly, he said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, if the Son of Heaven has sons yet passes the throne to his younger brother, would that not be the root of calamity?
"If Zhou State wishes to endure, it must strictly uphold the Lineage System. Before we have even extended it throughout the realm, are we to violate it ourselves?
"Zhou State governs the realm through rites and laws, not ghosts and spirits. Only your legitimate son may inherit your position. How could we imitate Yin Shang's backward custom of younger brothers succeeding elder brothers?"
As he spoke, he took a scroll of sacrificial writings from his robes. "I am only a mortal. Could I receive more of Heaven's favor than your own sons? I wish only to pray to Heaven to exchange my life for Your Majesty's health."
Ji Fa seemed not to have expected Ji Zhao to refuse. After a moment's silence, he said softly, "Zhao, go summon Taigong, the director of the royal clan, the Three Excellencies, Yun, and the others. I will wait here. Hurry back."
Ji Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave the bedchamber. A while later, he returned with more than a dozen figures, led by Taigong Wang.
Ji Zhao brought Ji Fa's eldest legitimate son, Ji Yun, forward.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Everyone bowed together, then knelt on the cushions in the bedchamber.
"Father!"
Ji Yun ran crying to Ji Fa's bedside and sobbed, "What is wrong?"
"Cough, cough." Feeling his body grow ever weaker, Ji Fa called softly, "Zhao, come here too. Carry Yun on your back."
Carry the king on his back!
Everyone in the bedchamber guessed what was about to happen, and their gazes turned toward Ji Zhao.
Ji Zhao was even more shaken inwardly. The political significance of this gesture was all too obvious. Suppressing his excitement, he stepped forward.
Ji Fa raised Ji Zhao's arm and addressed everyone. "Today, I invest Ji Yun as Crown Prince and Ji Zhao as Grand Steward. I also grant Ji Zhao the lands east of the Luo River to establish Luo State, and enfeoff him as Marquis of Luo. Should I pass away, Ji Zhao shall serve as regent, assist Ji Yun, and exercise royal authority on his behalf. All of you must obey his commands."
Without waiting for their reactions, he turned to his son Ji Yun. "Yun, your uncle Ji Zhao is the most capable man in Zhou State. Only with him assisting you can I rest easy. Go bow to him as a son would to his father."
Sniffling, Ji Yun climbed down from Ji Zhao's back and prostrated himself.
"Royal Uncle."
Ji Zhao allowed him only one bow before helping him up. He then bowed three times to Ji Yun, rose, and said to Ji Fa, "The Crown Prince is the heir to the senior lineage. Though I am his uncle, I am merely the head of a junior lineage. How could I accept three bows from the Crown Prince?"
[Ding~ Enfeoffing lands and establishing a state marks the beginning of the kingly way. You have secured your place in history. Your Fortune Points have increased by 5,000. You have received an item-Heaven Tier · Celestial Card.]
An achievement on the level of receiving a fief and founding a state would be practically unobtainable after Qin's unification. Moreover, this was his first time. The system had been generous, awarding a Heaven-Tier Item outright.
[Ding~ Assisting the Son of Heaven and governing through Statecraft as regent has greatly elevated your historical standing. Your family now has a history of regency. Your Fortune Points have increased by 4,000. You have received an item—Earth Tier · Heart-Knot.]
A powerful minister serving as regent-how many people throughout history had reached such heights? Especially for a first achievement, it had directly earned him an Earth Tier item.
Ji Zhao was stunned. Starting as King Wu's younger brother was far too good. Such precious items, and he had won them without doing anything at all. With these two items, he could safely weather at least two crises.
As witnesses, everyone in the bedchamber silently watched Zhou State's transfer of power, while the court historian carved this historic scene onto bamboo slips.
In the second year of King Wu, the king fell gravely ill.
The Sage King attended him.
The king said, "I am about to die. Zhou State cannot be without a ruler.
"My son is young. How can a small child rule all under heaven?
"My younger brother possesses great talent and profound virtue. He should be another Yao or Shun!"
The Sage King refused in grief, citing the Lineage System.
Thus King Kang was enthroned.
The Sage King served as regent, and King Kang treated him as a father.-Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Zhou
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